Venice and Art, across the Grand Canal

A walk from Punta della Dogana to Ponte di Rialto, passing across Ponte dell'Accademia, will completely encompass you with art, colours and the unique sensations offered by the elegant city of Venice.

You will cross, almostlostinatimelessbubble, theSestieri(districts) ofDorsoduroandSanMarco. The firstextends into thesouthern partof the cityand startspreciselyfrom the Punta dellaDogana,whichis part of theBacino di SanMarco.The'Dogana da mar' (sea customs) of the Republic of Venice was builtin the seventeenthcenturyand consists ofmany warehouses behind the facade. It ends withasquare tower, above which bronze statues supportthe golden ball onwhich Fortune stands, a work of BernardoFalcone.The nameDorsoduro probably derivesfrom the mounds (dossi), that probably existed once in that area. You will pass throughone of themost exclusive areasof the city,which is home toplaces of artlike no other, many valuable craftsmen workshopsandalsorare examples ofmodernresidential Venetian architecture. After crossing the Ponte dell'Accademia (one of the four bridges servingthe Grand Canal), you will arrive atSanMarco, thesmallestdistrictby extension,butthat encompasses thepolitical and religious heartof the city.During this walkyou willdiscovertherealreasonwhyVeniceisrightlyconsidered one of themost famous andsought-afterart citiesin the world...and whyart objectsdesigned and producedhereare so uniqueand inimitable(and, who knows, perhaps you can bring one home).

Getting toPuntadella Doganais as simple as it isfascinating:withits perfectly triangular shapeitdivides theGrand Canalfrom the Giudecca Canal. Beautiful andunique, it isperhapsthe best place toenjoy the panoramaof Venice:from here you cancapturea breathtaking viewofPiazzaSanMarco, the island ofSanGiorgioandthe entireskylineof the lagoon city. The former monumental portof the city is now the permanenthome toworksfrom theFrançoisPinault's collection, a centre devoted to contemporary art, that surely deservesa visit.

Don’t miss theBasilicadella Salute, a seventeenth-century churchdedicated to the Virgin, built after Venice was freed froma plague epidemic. Construction was begunby Baldassarre Longhena, whodid not live to see itaccomplished. The statuesthat decorate the façade are beautiful and the octagonal interiorhouses importantpaintings including, in the Sacristy, an altarpiece byTitian.If you gotoVeniceon November 21st, you can join theexciting and warm feast ofMadonna della Salute (Our Ladyof Health): throughout the day, in the Basilica, open all day without interruption,masses androsaries are continually celebrated,withacontinuous flowofbelievers.To facilitate thepilgrimage, a pontoon bridge is created across the Grand Canal, in order to connectPunta della DoganawithSantaMaria delGiglio.

Once you cross Rio di SanMaurizio, inCalleBastionat number720/B of Dorsoduroyou can admirethe works of theBottegad'ArteSan Vio.GregorioBacciwill welcome you to discover his works on canvas,signed with the name Giagan, that depict views of Venice in a different way compared to the traditionalviewsof the city: vivid coloursand dynamicshapesmaketheworkof this artist completely original.Beside theseworksof prevailingVenetian landscape, Gregorio performsotherprojectsby experimenting withpainting techniquesand diverse materials,from traditionalgildingand oil paintingto modernphoto printing anddigital processing: a very special souvenir,without whichit would be ashame to leave!

Your "artistic" walk is just at its beginning:a few meters away you will in fact reach thePeggy Guggenheim Collection,the most important museuminItalyforEuropean and American artof the firsthalf of the twentiethcentury.It is locatedin PalazzoVenier deiLeonion the Grand Canal, that was oncethe home ofPeggyGuggenheim. Opened in1951 by thegranddaughterofSolomonR.Guggenheim, a wealthy American industrialistand art collector, the museum houses PeggyGuggenheim's personal collection ofartof the twentiethcentury, as well asworks from other collectionsand temporary exhibitions. The collectionincludes masterpieces ofCubism, Futurism, Metaphysical painting, European abstraction, Surrealism and American Abstract Expressionism, as well as legendarymasterpiecesof Italian Futurism.

Feeling fascinatedand dreamy, let's nowgotoRio TeraSanVioto reach theBacArt Studio (Bottega d'Arte Cadore), foundedin 1977 byPaoloBaruffaldiandClaudioBazzichetto. The termBottega (workshop) has beendeliberatelyinserted as an ideallinkwiththeRenaissance Bottega, a place where design, executionand exhibitionof the workof the artist (or group ofartists) took place, in a direct contact withthepublic.The Bottega’sactivity revolves exclusivelyaround engravingand the workof the artist-engraver, whodirectly performs his owncopper, brassorzincplatefrom the initial designto the printona hand press. Here, in addition to thefinestcraftsmanship, variouscultural and artistic events are organized, especiallyto make the most ofyoung talentsas they ariseon the art scene alongside the established artists.

You can now return towander throughthese silent streets, the same in which WoodyAllen's movie "EveryoneSays I Love You" was set. After Campo SanVioyou will find yourselfat the footof thePonte dell'Accademia: before facingitswooden steps, it is a must to visitthe Gallerie dell'Accademia, theoldest and most completecity art gallery, that contains significant works from the historyof Venetian paintingfrom the fourteenth tothe eighteenth century(including the unmissable La Tempesta and La Vecchia by Giorgione, as well as works byPierodella Francesca, Mantegna,Bellini, Carpaccio, Titian and entirecycles by Tintoretto,Veronese, Canaletto, Guardi, etc.). It isnowtimeto cross thePonte dell'Accademia, a bridge that is famous in Venice for being "provisional"since 1933: builtinjust 37days to replacethe former bridge from 1852 (which had a markedly"industrial" style, clashing with the surrounding context of town architecture), it has never beenreplaced because of its strength. At the timeof its inauguration, it was the largestarch bridgeinwoodthroughout Europe. You can then crossCampo SantoStefano, one of the largest squares in Venice, which hosts at its centrea statueof the writer Niccolò Tommaseo. In spring it becomes the playgroundof Venetian children:you will see themdrawing on the pavement withcoloured chalk or whizzing on their skates. Beyond is CampoSant'Angelo, with its characteristic Z-shaped plan. From here thefamousCalle dellaMandola begins, where you can find, at number3805/A, the splendid Venetian Dreams, a workshop focused on the female craftsmanship behind the creationandartistic useof pearlsandbeadsofVenetianglass. You will be welcomed byMarisaConvento, who, after many years ofexperience in the fieldof textiles andart glass, managesthisworkshopwith skill andmastery; she pursues the aimof creating jewellerywithpreciousVenetianglass beads, as well as fashion accessories and decorationsto embellish furniture, respectingtradition andadaptingto the tasteof today.The strictlyone-of-a-kind creations by Venetian Dreamsare presentedinfashion shows, eventsand exhibitionsthat promotethe excellenceof Venetian craftsmanship... you will be tempted to buy one too!

Continuing alongCalle dellaMandola, you can turn leftfora visit to thewonderfulPalazzoFortuny, the house-museumof the Spanish artistMarianoFortuny:fabrics, objects,antique furniture,painting,light, photography, and clothing will accompany you intoa unique andmagical atmosphere. Now go back to Calle dellaMandola, where, right at the end, before the bridge thatleads to CampoManin,at number3718 you will find Lellabella, a precious littleshopin the heartof Venice: there you will meet LellaandMonica,motherand daughter. At Lellabellayou will not findjust ordinary wool, but the finest high quality Italian yarnsofferedby specialised companiesand a wide varietyofcustom handmade models. Let yourself be charmedby the authenticityof the real"MadeinItaly",handmade just like it was in the past.